More Heat Than Light: Carter Peterson Mystery Series Book 4 Read online

  “Difficult to tell,” James replied. “The company that built the building went bankrupt before it was finished, so the bank holding the construction loan hired a bunch of hack subs to complete the project. And when I say hack, I mean it. I’ve never seen such shoddy work. The back door was installed so poorly, the lockset barely engaged the latch plate. Anyone with a credit card could have slipped it between the door and the frame and breached that unit within seconds.”

  “Lovely,” Sarah said. “Doesn’t anyone have integrity anymore?”

  “Yep. We do,” I said. “That’s why we need to finish up here and get busy. First order of business is to pay the radio station a visit and see if they intend to renegotiate our contract. I want nothing more than to determine who’s responsible for Amanda’s death, but we don’t work for free.”

  “Well … not if we can help it,” Sarah chimed in.

  “Who do you have to see in order to get that done?” James asked. “The general manager?”

  “That’s right,” I said.

  “Mind if I follow you over there? Like I said before, he’s on my list.”

  “No problem,” I said as I pulled my wallet out.

  James held up his hand. “Nope. Put it away. Lunch is on me today” He tossed a twenty and a ten onto the table.

  Sarah looked at me and we gave one another a smirk. James never offered to pay.

  * * *

  WTLK was a modest broadcasting facility, consisting of a single-story L-shaped brick building, radio tower, and a few vans equipped for occasional remote program duties. The property had changed hands several times over the years, with stints as country and classic rock stations. Both had had decent success for the size of their operations and output power, but neither had reached a fraction of the success its present format had reached since Amanda Enright’s meteoric rise.

  Enright had become so popular, in fact, that WTLK was able to put her show in syndication, netting massive licensing profits for the relatively minor-league outfit. Lee Sands, the general manager whom we were on our way to meet with, knew all along that Amanda was a one-woman gold mine for everyone who worked there. Being the shrewd, yet fair individual that he was, Sands had convinced the owners of the privately held corporation to compensate their comedian-turned-radio star handsomely in order to hold on to their collective success.

  And it had worked. Amanda Enright had been content, and thriving under Sands’s tutelage.

  Until it all came crashing down.

  “Think we’re going to get this deal done?” Sarah asked as we made our way across the crowded parking lot.

  “I would imagine so,” I said. “Seems to me there’ll be a lot of fans who’ll be looking for some sort of closure. It’s in the station’s best interest to keep them happy.”

  Detective James pulled up next to the entrance and rolled his window down just as we were about to enter the complex. “Think I’ll wait in the car for you two to finish your business with Sands before I let him know I’m here.”

  “Works for us,” I said and gave him a wave. I opened the door for Sarah and motioned for her to enter.

  She stepped inside the entry vestibule, bound for the lobby. “Thanks, handsome.”

  I was about to reply when I heard our names called out from behind. A brief tingle ran up through my spine, convinced for a split-second it was Amanda Enright’s voice I’d heard.

  “Hi, Kayla,” Sarah said. “I didn’t expect to find you here. Is Corey with you?”

  “No. Afraid not,” Kayla replied. “He’s having a really difficult time with all of this. He and Amanda were tight, if you know what I mean.”

  I looked at Sarah, hoping to get some indication she understood what Kayla meant. Sarah’s blank expression told me otherwise. I turned back toward Kayla. “Has he been released from the hospital?”

  She shook her head. “The doctor recommended Corey stay there another day for observation,” Kayla replied. “He said bedrest was the best course of action right now. Anyways, you can go right in. Lee is waiting for you in his office.”

  “Oh … uh, thanks,” Sarah said while giving me a sideways glance.

  “No worries,” Kayla said. She gave us a smile then disappeared down the hall leading to the studios.

  Sarah pulled me down close and said, “She seems pretty cheery. And calling the general manager by his first name? Doesn’t that strike you as being odd?”

  “I wouldn’t necessarily describe her as cheery,” I said. “Could be she’s just trying to act professional. But that’s definitely the only time I’ve heard her use Lee’s first name. It was always Mr. Sands before now.”

  Sarah shrugged, turned the corner, and knocked on Lee’s wired-glass door. He looked as if he hadn’t slept.

  Lee motioned for us to come in and rose from his desk. “Sarah, Carter, glad you could come in, first thing.”

  “We’re so sorry for your loss,” Sarah said.

  “Yes, our condolences,” I added.

  “Thank you,” Lee said. “I have to admit … this comes as such a shock to all of us here at the station. Amanda was so brilliant on stage last night. Sorry, you both know that. You were there with Corey. I … I just cannot believe she’s no longer with us. It’s simply devastating.”

  “Of course,” Sarah said.

  Lee sat back down at his desk. “I’m sorry,” he said. “Please, sit.”

  I couldn’t help but gaze above and behind him. His office wall was full of framed photographs---most capturing a much younger Lee---standing with a multitude of recording artists whose work spanned decades. This guy had really been around when it came to radio.

  I studied his face as we settled in. He appeared to be in his mid to late forties, salt-and-pepper gray hair thinning. However, his tall, athletic build suggested a much younger spirit.

  I guess I’d hesitated a second too long as I took it all in, because Sarah---who usually left the negotiating to me---took the ball and ran with it. “Lee, I know WTLK’s contract with us was drawn up specifically for threat assessment and analysis regarding Amanda. That’s all changed. As a result, we’d like to offer our expertise in helping to find the person, or persons, responsible for Amanda’s death.”

  Lee crossed his arms over his chest. “Isn’t that what the police are doing? I mean, that’s their job, right.”

  “Yes, of course,” Sarah said. “But we work closely with our local police detectives on a regular basis. Not to toot our own horn, but the results speak volumes. Bridgeport Police Department’s close rate on solving cases is one of the highest in the nation.”

  Lee nodded. “I don’t doubt what you’re saying. However, I’m assuming that hiring you for your investigative skills would involve quite a bit more money than our current agreement calls for.”

  “Uh, yes. Yes, it would,” Sarah admitted.

  I saw Lee lean forward and clasp his hands together atop his desk. I was about to explain why it was a good idea, and a solid business decision, for the station to renegotiate with us, but he beat me to the punch.

  “I hope this doesn’t sound callous,” Lee said, “but short of you being able to bring Amanda Enright miraculously back to her seat behind the microphone, anything you say and do from this point forward isn’t going to help us here. Because, without Amanda Enright, this radio station is already on life-support. I doubt it’ll survive.”

  “With all due respect, I’m afraid I’ll have to disagree,” I said.

  “Look, Carter. Sarah. I like you both very much. And I know you’re great at what you do. That said, I’m willing to keep the contract in play that we already have together. So go ahead. Use the funds we initially agreed upon. Conduct your investigation. Take it as far as you feel you can with the resources we’ve earmarked. But that’s it. That’s the best I can do.”

  I stood up before Sarah had a chance to respond. “Fine,” I said as I reached out to shake Lee’s hand. “I’ll draw up a revised contract to reflect what we’ve discus
sed this morning and we’ll move forward.”

  “Agreed,” Lee said with a nod. “And thank you for understanding.”

  I turned toward Sarah, prepared to leave the office.

  She was glaring at me.

  I gave her a subtle shake of my head as I said, “Thank you, Lee. We’ll be in touch.”

  I could tell by the way Sarah spun toward the door that I was facing a battle as soon as we got outside.

  Confirmed by her silence when a staff member wished us well as we left the building.

  Sarah wasted no time, coming to a stop in the middle of the walkway. “Why?” she said, throwing her arms out to the side.

  “Not here,” I said and motioned toward the car.

  Sarah turned and walked away. I pointed the key fob at the car as we approached, in order to avoid ratcheting up her irritation any further. She jumped in and shut the door.

  I got Detective James’s attention and gave him a nod. He got out and began walking our way as I opened my car door.

  “The one time I take the reins and lead a contract negotiation, you step on it and give away thousands of dollars,” Sarah said before I bent my knees to slide behind the wheel.

  James turned heel once he realized there was a problem. We gave one another a quick wave as I got in the car. “It wasn’t going to happen,” I said in response to Sarah’s statement.

  “You don’t know that, Carter. Pretty sure I had it under control.”

  “With all due respect, I do know that,” I said in a normal voice, determined to stay calm. “Sands’s body language was an obvious tell. But there’s more to it than that.”

  “OK. Enlighten me. Because you’re the one who always tells me we can’t afford to work for free.”

  “I’d be happy to, but in all honesty, I’m not liking your tone. I apologize, because I obviously offended you in there. Which was not my intent. Now, if you want to discuss this calmly, I’m happy to do so.”

  “You know what? If the shoe was on the other foot, you’d be pissed. Admit it,” she said, still fire in her tone.

  I remained silent and started the car.

  Sarah buckled her seatbelt and turned away, choosing to focus her attention outside of the car.

  We drove for a number of miles before Sarah decided to break the silence. “So tell me. What is it---in your infinite wisdom---that you think you saw in there that I didn’t?

  “My infinite wisdom? Why do you want to escalate hostility, here? You know we’re on the same side.”

  “I’m hurt, that’s why. What you did back there wasn’t a team play. You undermined what I had going.”

  I signaled my intention to turn into the church parking lot ahead, found a free spot, and shut the motor down. “Do you trust me?” I asked.

  Sarah made a face to emphasize her apparent disgust at the question. “That’s just condescending.”

  “No. It’s not. I’m asking because I get the feeling you think you saw and heard something I didn’t in Lee’s office.”

  “Now you’re being ridiculous. It’s just the opposite.”

  “Are you willing to hear me out?” I asked. “Because you’re the one who got me thinking along these lines to begin with.”

  “By all means,” Sarah responded, her voice taking on a calmer tone.

  “You asked if I thought Kayla was a little too cheery when we saw her. I didn’t think much of it at first. But her using Lee’s first name did strike me as being odd. Sands runs the entire station. He’s a big-wig. Kayla’s an unpaid intern. A peon when it comes to corporate structure.”

  Sarah looked at me as if I was on drugs. “And?”

  “When we sat down with Lee, he immediately crossed his arms over his chest. As soon as you started talking. His body language told me he was closed off to whatever we were going to say.”

  “So that’s your reasoning behind taking away my ability to get us paid?” Sarah asked.

  I ignored her dig and continued. “Lee said he was glad we could meet with him right away, but his body language was telling a different story. Like he wanted us to go away as soon as possible.”

  “I disagree. If that were the case, he would have just told us our contract was no longer valid and sent us on our way with our initial deposit for services rendered.”

  I shook my head. “I’ll cut to the chase. My gut tells me Kayla and Lee might have something brewing.”

  Sarah shook her head. “I just don’t see it.”

  “Really? Not even a little?”

  Sarah sat in silence for a brief time. “I’m not saying it’s impossible. We don’t know any details about the guy’s personal life---though I did notice he was wearing a wedding band. I guess it’s not unreasonable to think the two of them might have a little sex thing happening on the side. I just can’t make the jump as to how it could relate to Amanda’s death. I’m afraid you’re reaching for something that’s just not there.”

  I nodded. “OK. I can respect that. And I trust your instincts. Guess we’ll just have to be patient. Due diligence, and all that.”

  “Uh-huh. Look … I’m sorry I got so angry,” Sarah said. “And maybe you’re right. Maybe Lee doesn’t want to throw any more money at a pursuit that isn’t going to net the station a profit. But I don’t see him as a viable suspect.”

  “Fair enough. Detective James will do his job. Let’s wait and see what he thinks once he’s questioned our boy Lee.”

  Chapter 12

  I watched Sarah walk inside the house before backing out of our driveway. It had been a tough morning, so I’d suggested we spend some time during the afternoon away from one another.

  She hadn’t put up a fight.

  I needed time alone to process the rapid-fire changes we’d been subjected to over the past 16 hours. Detective James was likely knee-deep in his questioning of suspects in Amanda Enright’s murder investigation by now. I had my doubts I’d hear from him before early evening rolled around.

  And I felt the need and desire to spend a little more time with Amanda’s now out-of-work producer Corey Anders. He was like a ship with no power, set adrift and subject to fickle winds now that his friend and colleague was gone. I felt I could trust him. Maybe he had answers to some tough questions about our victim’s history.

  I just didn’t know what those questions were yet.

  But there were clues out there, and I was determined to find them.

  * * *

  “Carter. So glad you’re here,” Corey said as I approached his bedside. I looked up at the TV picture. A CNN reporter was talking about Amanda’s death, standing just outside the police perimeter surrounding Briarwood Office Condominiums. Corey switched the program off. “It’s a double-edged sword for me. I can barely stand to watch the coverage, but I need to figure out why she’s gone.”

  “I can understand that,” I said. “It’s a terrible tragedy.”

  “Any news you can share?” he asked.

  “Not much. Herod Erlichman, the newspaper exec from Boston, has been cleared of any direct involvement. He has multiple alibis. But, it’s also my understanding he’s the individual who exposed Amanda’s connection to the televangelist.”

  “I’m not surprised. He’s always been more of a bully to Amanda than anything else.”

  I pulled my notebook out and jotted down what Corey said. “Mind if I have a seat. I thought we could visit for a bit.”

  “Please do. Trust me, I welcome the company. Have you been back over to WTLK to talk to Lee, yet?”

  “Yep. We spoke with Lee, and saw Kayla there, too.”

  Corey’s expression changed. “Sweet Kayla. You caught her at the station this morning?”

  “That’s right,” I said. “First person we spoke with, in fact.”

  “She was so kind this morning,” Corey said. “Wouldn’t leave until I swore up and down I was going to be all right.” He got quiet and I noticed his eyes welling up with tears. “I think I’ll miss that kid nearly as much as I’ll miss Aman
da. Kayla is like an Amanda clone, of sorts. Even filled in for her on-air a few times. Amanda was a role model for Kayla in the truest sense of the word.”

  “Any idea why Kayla would have been there at the station this morning?” I asked.

  Corey wiped his tears away and nodded. “She mentioned a desire to swing by WTLK on her way back to school. Needed to request a recommendation from Lee, and gather a few personal effects.”

  “I see. She seemed to be in a good mood when we saw her. Lee must have given her a decent review.”

  “No doubt in my mind. Everyone at the station adores Kayla. She takes what she does very seriously.” Corey seemed to be lost in thought for a moment before he said, “I take it Lee was receptive to your desire to be involved with the investigation?”

  “Somewhat.”

  Corey gave me an odd look. “Meaning what?”

  “He said we could play a role, but wasn’t willing to renegotiate our compensation.”

  “Wait. Isn’t an investigation like this one much more involved than the threat assessment agreement you’d signed previously?” Corey asked. “I’ve got to believe there would be a massive number of man-hours involved in what you’re facing now.”

  “Careful,” I said with a straight face. “Don’t you mean ‘people-hours?’”

  Corey let go a belly laugh as he shook his pointer finger at me. “Very good, Carter. I knew you were sharp. Thank you. That’s the first time I’ve had reason to laugh in days.”

  I smiled. “Anyways, to answer your question … yes. Absolutely. The number of hours required for the two jobs don’t even come close to being equal.”

  “Well, I sincerely hope you told Lee no.”

  “Actually, I said yes.”

  Corey’s mouth hung open for a second or two. “And Sarah was fine with that decision?”

  I chuckled. “We had a slight disagreement over it.”

  Corey stared at me for a moment before speaking. “Perhaps it’s none of my business, but … may I ask what drove you to acquiesce to such an unfair arrangement?”